Buildings Insurance for Maisonette

vanilla8

Hi all,

I am in the process of buying a maisonette and require buildings (and contents) insurance as the freeholder is missing.

I am also within 250m of a flood area (info from searches my solicitor has done)

I am finding a lot of insurers require me to ring up for a quote, rather than being able to purchase direct online. Does anyone know any insurerers i can proceed with online?

Also do i have to declare to my insurer about being within 250m of flood area?

Oscar_The_Grouch

Hi there

Your solicitor will tell you what he has discovered, but not what is relevant!! For example, my parents in law lived within 250m of a flooded area, but the area flooded 25 years ago and they were 100m above the highest point of water!!

Most insurers will ask you something along the lines of "is your home within x metres of a watercourse, been flooded or in an area at risk of flooding". What you need to do is establish whether you can answer "No" to this. Confused.com assumes "Your home has not suffered from flooding in the last 10 years."

Try the Environment Agency website: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/?lang=_e

They give details of likely flood risks and if your new home isn't on there, you have no material fact to disclose.

Other things to think about are:
1. Who are the current owners insured with?
2. If its a maisonette, I assume there is another maisonette or flat. Who insures that, as it may be cheaper to get a policy covering the buildings for both properties.

Good luck and I hope the purchase goes smoothly.